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Journal of International Special Needs Education

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Print ISSN: 2159-4341
Online ISSN:
2331-4001
Frequency: Bi-annually

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Article Citation:
Hannu Savolainen, Philip D. Nordness, Erkko T. Sointu, Kristiina Lappalainen, and Michael H. Epstein (2013) Convergent Validity of the Finnish Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-2 with Teachers and Parents as Raters. Journal of International Special Needs Education: October 2013, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 94-101.
https://doi.org/10.9782/2159-4341-16.2.94

Feature Articles

Convergent Validity of the Finnish Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-2 with Teachers and Parents as Raters

Hannu Savolainen

University of Eastern Finland

Philip D. Nordness

University of Nebraska-Omaha, USA

Erkko T. Sointu and Kristiina Lappalainen

University of Eastern Finland

Michael H. Epstein

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

Hannu Savolainen, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland. E-mail:
Abstract

In previous research the Finnish version of the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-2 (Epstein, 2004) has demonstrated adequate internal consistency and reliability. The purpose of the present study was to examine the convergent validity of the Finnish BERS-2 by comparing it with the Finnish version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, with teachers and parents as the raters. The results add to the research base to suggest that the Finnish BERS-2 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the emotional and behavioral strengths of children and youth.

Tiivistelmä

Aikaisemmassa tutkimuksessa suomalainen versio Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-2:sta (Epstein, 2004) on osoittautunut luotettavaksi arviointivälineeksi. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli tutkia BERS-2:n suomalaisen version konvergenttiä validiteettia vertaamalla sitä Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire:n suomalaiseen versioon opettajien ja vanhempien toimiessa arvioijina. Tulokset vahvistavat aikaisempia havaintoja siitä, että suomalainen BERS-2 on validi ja realiaabeli arviointiväline lasten ja nuorten tunne-elämän ja käyttäytymisen vahvuuksien arvioinnissa.

Sammandrag

Tidigare forskning har dokumenterat att den finska versionen av Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-2 (Epstein, 2004) har adekvat inre konsistens och reliabilitet. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka den finska versionens konvergenta validitet. Jämförelsen gjordes med den finska versionen av Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Analysen baserades på lärar- och föräldraskattning. Resultatet visar att det finska BERS-2 instrumentet har god validitet och reliabilitet och att det lämpar sig väl för bedömning av emotionella och beteendemässiga styrkor hos barn och ungdomar.

Keywords: Behavioral and Emotional strengths, Behavioral problems, Covergent validity

Received: August 27, 2012; Revised: January 8, 2013; Accepted: February 13, 2013;